homosexuality

• Men committed shameful acts with other men

  Romans 1: 26-27
• Those of our churches who now wish to offer full marriage service to same sex couples are free to do just that

  URC
• The United Methodist Church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching. Do not reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends

  The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012
• There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family

  Pope Francis, On love in the Family
• [Gay People] should not be discriminated against

  Pope Francis - The Guardian 2016
• Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does a woman, that is detestable

  Leviticus 18:22
• You shall not lie with a man as one does a woman, that is detestable

  Leviticus 20:13
• No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that

  Leviticus 18:22~
• Situation Ethics on Homosexuality:

  • Agape love is the key to situation ethics - this could lead to the assumption that everyone should be loved unconditionally as its what God would've wanted
  •  it is subjective, meaning a matter of opinion. Someone might find it loving to try and prevent their homosexual child from expressing or acting on their homosexuality, or even to disown them
  • BUT IN DEFENCE - agape love is Godly love therefore not subjective - but still depends on the person
  • FLETCHER ignores Christian teaching against homosexuality
  • Bible isn't the perfect word of God
• Natural Law on homosexuality:

  • it goes against the primary precept of reproduction
  • Augustine and Bishop Barron - Many Christians claim only to be against homosexual acts, since that is all the bible mentions, not the homosexual orientation + intrinsically disordered
  • Christopher Hitchens - rejects - supposed separation of sinner from sin was absurd homosexual actions come from their nature. Church have no moral standing to criticise the sexual behaviour of others because of its complicity in the paedophile priest scandal
• Changing attitudes on Homosexuality:

  • Greek and Roman times - practiced freely and without any stigma
  • Later as Judaism and Christianity spread homosexuality was looked down upon
  • homosexuality became legal in the UK in 1967 as long as activity took place in private and they were 21 or over
  • 1994 - age of consent became 18
  • later reduced to 16
• Homosexual couples in the UK can:

  • get married, adopt children, same legal rights as heterosexual couples
  • However - can't get married in the Church of England -- other Christian denominations have the right to refuse gay people a wedding their church
  • Unitarians however do allow it
  • Methodists are considering approval
• Soddom and Gomorrah is a story that refers to homosexuality as a sin, although this is in the old testament it is referred to by Jesus.
• Current Christian attitudes to Homosexuality:

  • Fundamental Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God and homosexuality is sinful - Roman Catholics
  • RC - if someone is a homosexual then they have a duty to remain celibate so as to not live in sin -- it is a trial
  • Church Of England is divided
  • some accept practising homosexuality
• No man is to have sexual relations with another man; God hates that

  Leviticus 18:22
• You shall not lay with man as with a woman ... those that do shall put to death

  Leviticus
• God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged sexual relations for unnatural ones

  Romans 1:26 - 28
• Men do shameful things to eachother, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve

  Romans
• Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men

  1 Corinthians 6
• Mark - voices of Jesus -- never spoke directly about Homosexuality

  Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town